chapter 185 part 1
"New Deal?" Roosevelt muttered Colin's description to himself. For some reason, he was particularly interested in the term 'New Deal.'
"Luopo, are you interested in joining my campaign team?"
Setting down his knife and fork, Roosevelt extended an invitation to Colin. The young man's political stance was extremely close to his own, and some of the suggestions he proposed were even more appealing than those from the campaign team Roosevelt had currently assembled. This was why he extended the invitation.
Colin hadn't expected that his suggestion, based on Roosevelt's future New Deal, would lead to such a misunderstanding.
"My apologies."
Had it been anyone else with political ambitions, they might have accepted Roosevelt's invitation. Being part of a Presidential Election team was a political asset for the participants, even if the campaign ultimately failed. Moreover, knowing the future, there was no chance of Colin picking the wrong side.
Unfortunately, Colin had no intention of getting too deeply involved in politics. He paused for a moment at the dinner table before politely declining Roosevelt's invitation. The task of saving the American people from their suffering was best left to others.
For Colin, the key was to collect [Faith] and unlock his Powers. Everything else was merely an effort toward that goal. Whether it was investing in politics or his actions in the Stock Market, it was all part of the process of accumulating capital.
"Sir, it's time for your next appointment."
An aide glanced at his watch, leaned in, and quietly reminded Roosevelt. As the upcoming nominee for the Democratic Party, Roosevelt had many matters to attend to. This meal with Colin was just one stop on his packed schedule.
Although Colin had refused his invitation, Roosevelt didn't take it to heart. Not everyone enjoyed participating in politics. Even Roosevelt himself had made a momentous decision when he chose to return to the political arena.
"I will consider your suggestions, especially the part about the 'New Deal'."
Removing the napkin from his chest, Roosevelt shook Colin's hand lightly.
"Perhaps you could call it the 'Roosevelt New Deal'," Colin said with a smile as he released Roosevelt's hand.
...
"Waiter..."
After watching the aide push Roosevelt away in his wheelchair, Colin drained the glass of juice, raised his hand to call a nearby waiter to settle the bill, and concluded his lunch at the 21 Club.
Upon returning to the Messenger Newspaper office, he immediately began working on expanding the publication of The Messenger.
Currently, The Messenger was only published on Wednesdays and weekends, primarily featuring the serialized Superman comic. While this had attracted a large number of subscribers, it was detrimental to the Newspaper Office's long-term development. Especially with the launch of Messenger Comics and the quarterly "Superman" series, more and more readers would shift their attention to other publications.
"...From now on, The Messenger will be renamed the Daily Messenger. Apart from the regular serialized comic on Wednesdays and weekends, the other days will feature normal news coverage. Old John, I need you to contact our writers. From now on, I want to see a news report related to the General Election every single day."
Although he had declined Roosevelt's invitation to join the campaign team, it didn't mean Colin couldn't get involved in the General Election in his own way.
The Messenger, or rather, the revamped Daily Messenger, was the second-largest newspaper in New York, surpassed only by the World Daily News. It already possessed considerable influence.
"I'll get in touch with them right away."
Old John naturally had no objections to Colin's decision to expand the paper.
As a veteran of the Newspaper Office, Old John had lived through its most desperate times and had also personally witnessed Colin transform The Messenger from a small, near-bankrupt local paper into the second-largest newspaper in New York. He had long since developed unconditional trust in Colin's decisions.
Transforming the newspaper from a bi-weekly special issue to a daily publication was not something that could be achieved by words alone. The costs of newsprint and ink for printing had to be considered in advance. Of course, the most crucial part was the content of the news itself.
Even Colin didn't have a simple solution for this. He could only instruct Little John to take more photographs and have Francis gather more international news to fill the pages of the Daily Messenger.
Of course, the primary focus remained on the General Election coverage.
The direction of the reporting would, without a doubt, continue to center on Hoover. The Newspaper Office would maintain its consistent stance, sticking to its guns to see Hoover out of office.
As for whether this would provoke Hoover's displeasure, that was clearly not something Colin needed to worry about. Besides, even if Hoover was displeased, what could he do?
In any case, his time in The White House was running out.
In fact, Colin almost hoped Hoover would react.
...
"Mellon pulled the whistle, Hoover rang the bell,
Wall Street gave the signal and the country went to hell."
The next day, Monday morning.
On the streets of New York, newsboys chanted a long-forgotten nursery rhyme as they weaved through the streets and alleys.
"Extra, extra!"
"The Messenger has been renamed the Daily Messenger! From now on, you can read the serialized Superman story in the Daily Messenger every day!"
The lyrics evoked memories of The Great Depression's misery. A pedestrian clutched his coat tighter and stopped a passing newsboy.
"Can I really read Superman every day?"
"Absolutely!"
The newsboy held up a copy of the Daily Messenger and flipped to the four-panel comic section. He pointed his small, ink-stained finger at the majestic figure of Superman in his red cape. "Mr. Colin from the Daily Messenger has already said, from now on, there will be Superman every day!"
"Give me a copy of The Messenger!"
Hearing the newsboy's answer, the pedestrian quickly pulled a 2-cent coin from his pocket.
"It's the Daily Messenger, sir."
The newsboy corrected the pedestrian, took the coin, handed over the newspaper, and, adjusting the strap on his shoulder, continued his sales pitch down the street.
"Mellon pulled the whistle, Hoover rang the bell..."
Watching the newsboy's thin figure depart, the pedestrian shifted his attention back to The Messenger in his hands—no, it should be called the Daily Messenger now.
"Millions Live Like Animals!"
Flipping open the newspaper, the first thing he saw was not the expected Superman serial, but a news report about The Great Depression.
Beneath the sensational headline was a photograph of a family living in a "Hooverville."
The family in the photo was dressed in rags, living in a "house" made of broken wooden planks. The father leaned against a wall, using a salvaged tin can to collect rainwater to wash his thinning hair. Beside him stood the mother, her face numb, gripping a rickety wooden door. Through a crack in the door, a child could be seen huddled in a corner, staring at the camera with curious eyes.